New AP secretariat starts functioning in Velagapudi

Wed, Jun 29, 2016, 06:49 PM

Velagapudi, June 29: The temporary secretariat built at Velagapudi in the Amaravati capital region began functioning on Wednesday. AP minister Ayyannapatrudu formally inaugurated the building at 2.59 pm. Ministers Ayyanna and Mrunalini occupied their offices.

Along with ministers' offices, the offices of government secretaries and HoDs were also inaugurated. Housing and Panchayatiraj departments are the first to start from the new secretariat. Other departments will be shifted in a phased manner.

“AP’s dream of ruling from its own capital on its own soil is finally coming true,” Panchayati Raj Minister Ayyanna Patrudu said. He said that due to the rains work got delayed a little and it appeared that offices would shift only late July or first week of August. “But as the ground floor of Block five is ready for occupation, employees of the four departments have been asked to shift now its self,” he said.

While CM N Chandrababu Naidu, who first inaugurated a single room of the AP Temporary Secretariat on April 25, considered an auspicious day, is touring China, senior ministers, bureaucrats including AP Chief Secretary S P Tucker visited the new offices today.

The employees of the departments which shifted today will return tonight to Hyderabad and will gradually move to Velagapudi over the next few days. “Many employees did not believe that the buildings would be ready so quickly. Of course, there will be some teething problems, but we are working on that. We have provided workstations, desks, chairs, and power supply and employees can start working immediately,” an official said.

Next week other departments like Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Irrigation, R&B will start shifting. Block-1 in the temporary secretariat also known as AP Transitional Headquarters would house the offices of Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and the General Administration Department. It will be ready in three weeks and on July 21, Chandrababu Naidu is expected to start working from his office here. Blocks 2, 3, and four will be inaugurated on various dates in July. Block 6 which will house the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council will be ready by September.

Meanwhile, some 200 employees of various departments shifted to Vijayawada from Hyderabad on Wednesday and more of their colleagues are planning to shift this week; it is learnt.